Oil well testing device



D April 24, c. v. MILLIKAN 2,374,557

OIL WELL TESTING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed 001;. 5. 1942 INVENTQR M d )med/WM B Y i ATTORNEY?.

April 24, 1945.7v

C. V. MILLIKAN oIL WELL TESTING bEvIcE Filed Oct: 5. 1942 ,JJ i

v INVENTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOR N EYS c. v. MILLIKAN- 2,374,557

01E wELL TESTING DEVICE Filed oct. 5. 1942 5 sheets-sheet 3 t April 24, 1945.

` Patented Apr. 24, l

Geophysical Research Corporation, New York, N. Y., a. corporation of New Jersey e Appiieauon october 5, 1942, serial No. 460.169*

comme vices. V

In applicants 'eo-'pending application, 'Sex'. No.

v 455,295, led August 19, 1942, there is disclosed.

a vprocedure for separately testing diilerent sec- 'rhis invention' reiateste ou wen A,testing dev-- `(Cl. 137-18) i tions of an oil-producing zone in a well which is producing' in the normal manner for the purpose. of determining the nature of the fluid being obtained from each individual section.

An object of this invention is an instrument by means of which the procedure .iust'referred to may be performed eilicientiy and expeditiously at a comparatively low equipment cost and operating expense. l A

Other olbjects, novel features and advantages of this linvention will Ibecome apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figs. 1, 2. 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged sectional `ews respectively of successive portions of. the instrument shown in elevation in Fig. 17:

Fig. 6 is a section on the lines-8 of Fi'g. 4;

Figs. 7 and 8 are sections on the lines 'I-I and 8 8 of Fig. 5;

Figs. 9 and 10 are sections on the lines 9-9 and I-I0 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section similar-to Fig. 2 but at right angles thereto;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line I2-I2 of Fig. n;

projects a. pin I9 mounted on'the shaft I6. The

sleeve I1 is provided with a collar 2li between which and, a. collar 2|v on the shaft I8 near the end of the casing I2 is arranged a helical spring 22 surrounding the shaft I6 and sleeve I1. The

spring 22 isof the expansion type and normally tends to hold the sleeve Il in the position shown in Fig. l with the pin I9 in contact withl the upper end of the longitudinal portion of the slot .collar 20 andthe plate 29 with one end fittingv \Fig. l3`is a. fragmentary section similar to Fig. 1 but at right angles thereto; A

Fig. 14 is a section on the line I I-II of Fig. 2, but with a diil'erent arrangement of parts;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 2 but with a different arrangement of parts;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary side elevation at the same level as the lower portion ofFlg. 2. and

Fig. 17 is a sectional view through awell in which is arranged Van instrument embodying the invention. L

'As shown in` Fig. l, a pipe upper end by a hoistingvplug II and contains I0 is closed at its- II. However, the sleeve I1 may be moved upwardly against the pressure of the spring 22 to bring the transverse portion of the slot I8 into register with the pin I9 so that the sleeve I1 may be rotated slightly to locate the pin I9 in the transverse portion of the slot and thus lock the sleeve I I in elevated position. A plug 23 isarranged 'in the tube I3 above the plug Il' and is held in place by a screw 2l. In the plug 23 is provided a thrust bearing 25 which mounts a driven shaft 26 extending through the plug Il 29. Al collar 21 is pinned to the upper -end of of longitudinal .holes into which extend studs 28 projecting from a plate 29 having'a central boss 30. A torque spring 3| is interposed between the over and fixed to the boss 30 andthe other end fitting over` -and fixed to the portion of the sleeve I1 extending below the collar 29." A wheel or disk 32 is mounted on the plugs I4 and 22 and is provided on its rim with indicia visible through a slot 32a in the tube I3 with the pipe III disconnected and removed from the boss 33 extends into a pipe 3l, the upper end the'plug Il.

-Referring now to Fig. 23 of smaller diameter 2, (the p1ug u has a. boss than the plug itself and of which is threaded on to the lower end of the clock mechanismenclosed in aqcasing I2. the

n lower end of-wl'iich is threaded. A slotted tube I3 is screwed on to the threaded end of the casing" I2 and is closed at lits lower end by a plug Il threaded intothe end of the pipe vIII and having a projection to Vwhich the tube .I3

`is vattached Iby a screw I5. 'I'he ldrive shaft AI8 of the clock mechanism projects from the casing vi2 a short distance into the tube I3. A sleeve I1 is slidablymounted on the vided withra vslot I9 having a longitudinal p0rtion and a transverse portion into which-slot plug II.- The driven shaft 29 has a portion 35 -of reduced ydiameter projecting beyond the lower end .of the boss. and around which a liquidtight seal is provided fby the stuffing box and packing 36. A slotted tube 31 has its upper end fitting fover the boss 33 and is attached thereto ,by a screw 38. In the lower end of the' tube 31 shaft n and is oro'-` plug 39. l'ta'ched to upper end with a clamp is arranged a plug 39 held in place Iby a screw 40. A head 4I in the pipe 34 has a shaft 42 extending through the plug 39 and held in place by a collar 43 pinned thereto, the collar, shaft and head A- helical spring ,M has one end atthe vshaft l2 and is provided' at its l5 by' which the upper end of the spring is ilxed to the portion '3l of and beyond the upper surface of the plug f shaft 2s between they `|being rotatable with respect to the*A position.

'diameter than the pipe 89. small diameter central boss 11 to which is atthe drive vshaft 26. The lower end of the pipe 34 is closed by a plug 46 inthe upper portion of which is provided a recess 41. A rod 48 is slidablysupported by the plug 46 axially thereof and extends upwardly into the pipe 34. The lower end of the rod 48 projects beyond the base of the plug 46 and is provided with a head 49 which limits upward movement of the rod. On the rod 48 is fixed a collar58 between which and `the 'bottom ofthe recess 41 is mounted' a helical spring tending to move the rod 48 upward to bring the head 49 into contact with the lower-face of the plug 46. At its upper end,

the rod 48 is provided with a hollow portion 52 into which projects a stud 53 extending from the lower face of the head 4|.` The upper surface of the prtion'52 is closed except for an axial bore through which the stud 53 extends and a radial slot 52a (Fig. 14). The stud 53 is equipped with'a pin 54 (Fig. 14) of suitable size and arrangement to pass through the slot when alined therewith and' upon axial movement of v the rod 48. Normally, the. rod 48 is at a suilif ciently'lower position than that shown in Fig. 2

to locate the pin 54 above the portion 52 and the shaft 42 is oriented sufliciently to maintain the pin 54 out of alinement with the radial slot 52a. A disk 55 (Figs. 1l and 12) -is slidably mounted on the rod 48 and two rods 56 extend downwardly from the cross-bar 55 through the plug 46 and through holesin the head 49. A stylus 51 (Figs. 11 and l2) is supported by the disk 55 and is adapted to engage a chart supported on the interior surface of a cylindrical chart holder 58 attached `to the head 4| and extending nearly to' the bottom of the pipe. 34. A pipe 59 has its upper end threaded to the lower end of the plug 46 and within the pipe 59 is a cylinder 68. `A piston 6| is slidably mounted in the cylinder 68 and is attached to the lower ends of the rods 56, upward movement of the piston being limited by an annular stop 62 at the upper tached to the lower ends of the rods 63 (Fig. 9). vThe member 65 has apertures 66 and is attached to a rod'61 which projects downwardly beyond end of the cylinder 68. Rods 63 arranged in loneter pipe 19 surrounds the pipe 18 and is attached to the plug 18 flush with the larger diameter portion thereof. Ducts 88 provide outlets -from the annular space between the pipes 18 and 19 (Fig. 6). The lower end of the pipe 19 is closed by a plug 8| (Fig. 5) having a small diameter boss 82 to which is attached the lower end of the pipe 18. In the boss 82 is provided an axial passageway 83 terminating in a plurality of` A pipe 85 radially. arranged passageways 84. has its upper end attached' to the lower end of the plug 8| and the plug is provided with passageways' 86 providing communication between the interior of the pipe 85 and tle annular space between the pipes 18 and 19. The lower end of the pipe 85 is closed by a' conical shape plug 81 having passageways 88 providing communication betweenthe exterior and the linterior of the pipe B5. g

As shown in Figs. 2 and k16,'the pipe 59 and the cylinder 68 are'provided with registering slots 89 and 98 respectively, the upper end of each slot being below the position of the bottom of the piston 6| when in its uppermost position and the bottom of 'each slot being above -the position of the 'bottom of the piston 6| when in its lowermost position. The slot 98 preferably expands upwardly for e.4 purpose later to be pointed out,A although it may be of uniform width'the same as the slot 89.

In 'Fig. 17 is illustrated the use of the instrument just described in a well equipped with a perforated steel casing or liner, for the purpose of determining the nature of fluid being obtained from different sections of the oil-producing zone and the rate at which the fluid is flow- -ing fro meach section. In this figure, |88 is a Astandard steel liner set into the well with cement |8| in the usual manner. Within the liner |88 is a discharge tube |82 which is equipped at intervals with packing rings |83 Athe inner surface of lar chambers |84. While the spacing of the packing rings |83 may fbe varied, it has been '-found that a spacing of approximately three feet is satisfactory. The liner `|88 is provided with the end of the pipe 59 and has a head 61a. A

hollow connector 68 joins a pipe 69 to the pipe 59 and receives the. rod`61. A` valve seat 18 is threaded into the upper end of the pipe 69 and` isl arranged to co-operate with a lift valve 1I having a stem 1|la engaged by the lower end of the rod 81.l A cross-bar guide member .1 2 (Fig. 10) is provided in the valve seat 18 and a helifcal spring 13 is arranged |between the member 12 anda collar 14 on the valve stem 1|1, the spring 13 tending to move the valve 1| into closed At the lower end of the pipe 69 is provided a spring-actuated check valve 15 (Fig. 4) for the purpose of preventing escape of liquid from the pipe 69 through the bottom end thereof. A hollow plug 16 is threaded into theI lower end of the pipe 69 andthe portion of 18 below the bottom edge of the pipe 89 is of somewhat greater The plug 16 has a tached a small diameter pipe 18. A larger diaminstrument the usual apertures communicating through passages |86 with the strata surrounding the well, these apertures and passageways being formed in the usual manner after the liner has been set in place by bullets shot from a special gun lowered into the liner. The: discharge tube |82 is provided with one or more apertures |81 between each pair of packing rings |83 to provide communicationbetween each chamber |84- and the interior of the discharge tube. Within the discharge tube |82 is arranged the testing 4|88 described previously sin this specification with reference to Figs. 1 to' 16 inclusive. On the inner wall of the discharge tube |82 are provided pack-off rings |89 which are spaced apart approximately the same distance4` |83 and are located closely adjacent such packing rings. Each pair of packas the packing rings oil rings |89 forms an annular chamber I8 with the' surface of the lower enlarged portion of the instrument |88 when the instrument is so arranged that the enlarged portion contacts both rin'gsof the pair. The rings |88 are so designed that the enlarged portion oi the testing instru-v ment |88 fits them snugly but the instrument is capable of movement relative thereto so that it may be placed in and removed from the discharge tube. When in the position shown in Fig. 1'1, the passageways 84 communicate with which contact the liner |88 to form annu-l piston 6I a single chamber IIO and a .single chamber Ill while the passageways 00 are located below the bottom ring |00 of the pair. Fluid'irom. that` portion of the dcharge tube I02 below the instrument enters the instrument through the passageways 80 while iluid from a single. chamber |04 passes into the instrument through passageways 0I by way ofthe apertures |01 and a single` chamberllll.

Before the instrument is lowered into the .well, the piston 0I rests on the collar 04 at the bottom ot the cylinder 60 and the cross-bar 50, together with the stylus 51 are located in the recess I1 as shown in Fig. 11.

spring 0I to locate the top surface of the portion 52 below the pin Sl'and the head 4I is sufficiently oriented to misaline the pin 04 with the slot 02a thereby maintaining the rod 40 in its depressed position. The vvalve 1I (Fig. 3) is` held out ofv contact with the valve 'seat 10 through the medium of the head 49, rods S3, sliding member 00, push a rod 61 and valve stem 1Ia. Theclock mechanism in the casing I2 is set in operation just before the instrument is lowered into the well and'rotates l The rod Il is de-,. pressed suiliclently against the action of the I4. In order to -eiect auch orientation. the part posed of the sleeve I1 and the collar 20 is r from the position shown in Fig. l and rotated counterclockwise to locate the pin Il'in the the head 4I at a slow speed, the speed of one rotation in four hours having been found satisfactory. By an arrangement subsequently to be described, the head 4I is set at an orientation which will cause alinement of the pin 04 with the slot 02a after a predetermined length of time.

When the instrument is lowered into the well with the surface of its enlarged portion contacting two pairs of pack-oil rings |00, the iluid from the well below the lower pack-off ring |08 ows through the passageways 80 into 'the pipe 00, through the passageways 00 into theV annular space between the pipes 10 and 10 and out through until the rate of now through the slots 'sa and u equals the rate of ilow into the instrument through the pasasgeways 84. The upward movement of the piston BI produces corresponding movement of the disk 00 and stylus 01, thus causing 'the' stylus to produce a trace on the chart carried by the chart .holder 00, the chart and its holder-being rotated at the same speed as the head Il. The trace on the-chart is a record of the rate of flow through the slot 90 during the time the instrument is in operation. When the pin 00 reaches alinement with the slot 02a, the rod 00 is' released for upward movement by the spring 0I to lift the push rod 61 through the medium of the head 49, rods $3 and slidable member 00 to permit the spring 13 to lift the valve,1l'into closed position thereby preventing further ow through the instrument. The check valve 10 is eilective to transverse portion of the slot Il. Such vmovement of the sleeve I1 retracts the pins 20 from the co1- lar 21, thus permitting rotation of the stud 53 to the desired orientation with respect to the porvtion 02. The indicia on the disk 32 are suitably calibrated to indicate the time which would be requiredto rotate the shaft 26 from any given position to a` position in which the pin 54 is in alinement with the slot 02a. Therefore, by rotation of the shaft 20 through the medium of the wheel 32 orotherwise until the proper setting` is indicatedby the wheel 32, any desired period of valve-open condition may be selected. After such selection has been made, the collar 20 is turned in clockwise direction until the pin I9-is in the longitudinal portion of the slot IB, after which laepins .20 are re-engaged in holes in the collar The slot 00 is formed of upwardly expanding conilguration for the purpose of having the extent of movement 'bf the piston proportional to the rate of ilow on a logarithmic scale rather than on a linear scale. lIi' a linear scale is desired, the slot 90 should be of uniform width from top to bottom.

Preferably, the chart on which the stylus makes its trace comprises a soft copper sheet. The

stylus is a steel pin which scratches or embosses aline in the copper sheet as it moves along the same. The chart holder is not sealed off from the uids so thatthe chart may be immersed in fluid while the record is being madefand it is for this reason that the copper sheet is used for the chart. I claim: I 1. Apparatus of the character described com- 40 prising -a chamber having inlet and outlet ports,

on said rotatable and slidable members for mainl ble member, said slidable member having a. bore" retain liquid in the pipe 09 upon removal of the instrument from the well to provide ailuid sample which may be removed from the instrument for analysis purposes.

lI E'he length of time that the valveglI is held openl is regulated by initial orientation ofthe stud 03 with respect tothe 'portion 02 with the pipe I0 disconnected and removed from the plug x voi' iiuid now. through said outlet port, a non- 7d rotatable slidable member operable in one posia checkiyalve for said inlet port, an outlet 'port lift valve movable to closed position in the direction of fluid ilow through said outlet port, biasing means tending to close said lift valve, a nonl.rotatable slidable member operable in one position to hold open said lift valve, a non-slidable rotating member, and inter-engageable means taining the latter in position to hold open said lift valve, said means being disengaged in one position of said rotatable member 'relative to said slidable member to permit saidliIt valve to close,

and means for driving said rotatable member.

2. Apparatus oi the character described comprising a chamber having inlet and outlet ports, a check valve for said inlet port, an outlet port lift valve movable to closed position in the direction oi' fluid ilow through said outlet port, biasing' means tending to close said lift valve, a nonrotatable, vslidable member operable in one position to hold open said lift valve, a non-slidable rotating member, means for driving said rotatato receive one end of said rotatable member and a 'keyway communicating with said bore, and a' radial projection on said rotatable member adapted to be received in said keyway by movement of said slidable, member upon alinement of said projection and keyway. v

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising a chamber having inlet and outlet ports, a check valve for said inlet port, an outlet port lift valve movable to closed position in the. direction tion to hold op'en said lift valve, a `non-slidable rotating member, and inter-engageable means on said rotatable and slidable members for maintaining the latter in position to lhold openlsaid lift valve, said means being disengaged in one position of said rotatable member relative to saidv asv-1,557

ing means tending to close said lift valve. a nonrotatable slidable member operable in one posible member, said slidable member having a bore to receive on end of said rotatable member and a keyway communicating with said bore, and a radial projection on said rotatable member adapted to be received in said keyway by movement of said slidable memberlupon alinement of said' projection and keyway. A

5. Apparatus-.of the character described comprising a chamber having inlet and outlet ports, a check valve for said inlet port, an outlet port lift valve movable to closed position in the direction of fluid i'low through said outlet port, a nonrotatable slidable member operable in one position to hold open said lift valve, a non-slidable rotating member, means for driving said rotatable member, one of said members having a bore to receive one end of the other member and a keyway communicating with said bore, and a radial projection on said other' member adapted to be received in said keyway by movement of said slidable member upon alinement of said projection and keyway. l

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a chamber Ahaving inlet and outlet ports,

a check valve for said inlet port, an outlet port lift valve movable to closedv position in the'direction of iiuid flow through said outlet port, bias- CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

It is hereby certified. that error-appears in the printed specification tion to hold open said lift valve, a non-slidable rotating member, means for driving said rotatable member, one of said members having a bore to receive one end of the other member anda keyway communicating with said bore, and a radial projection on saidother member adapted to be received in said keyway by movement of said slidable member upon alinement of said projection and keyway.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a lchamber having inlet and outlet ports, v a check valve for said inlet port, an outlet port i lift valve movable to closed position in the direction oi' uid ilow. through said outlet port, a nonrotatable slidable member operable in one position to hold open said lift valve, a non-slidable rotating member, means for driving said rotatable member, one of said members having a bore to receive the end of said other member, a keyways in one of said members and a radial projection on the remaining member adapted to beI received j in sai'd keyway by movement of said slidable mem- Ameans tending to close said lift valve, a nonrotatable slidable member operable in one position to hold open said lift valve, a non-slidable rotating member, means for driving said rotatable member, one oi' said members having a borev to receive the end of said other member,4 a keyway inione of said members and a radial projection ion the remaining member. adapted to be 4o received in said keyway by movement of said CHARLES .v. MILLIKAN.

slidable member upon alinementiof said' projection and keyway. y CHARLES V. MILLIKAN.

April 2 1, labs of the above vnumbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page Li, first column, line y18, claim il; for "on end read --one end-7;

andl that the said` letters Patent should be read with this vcorrection therein that the samemay'conorm to therecord. of the case in the Patent Office. signed vsind sealed this 51st dey or July, A. D'. 19h13.-

Leslie Frazer Acting Commissioner of Patents.

tion to hold op'en said lift valve, a `non-slidable rotating member, and inter-engageable means on said rotatable and slidable members for maintaining the latter in position to lhold openlsaid lift valve, said means being disengaged in one position of said rotatable member relative to saidv asv-1,557

ing means tending to close said lift valve. a nonrotatable slidable member operable in one posible member, said slidable member having a bore to receive on end of said rotatable member and a keyway communicating with said bore, and a radial projection on said rotatable member adapted to be received in said keyway by movement of said slidable memberlupon alinement of said' projection and keyway. A

5. Apparatus-.of the character described comprising a chamber having inlet and outlet ports, a check valve for said inlet port, an outlet port lift valve movable to closed position in the direction of fluid i'low through said outlet port, a nonrotatable slidable member operable in one position to hold open said lift valve, a non-slidable rotating member, means for driving said rotatable member, one of said members having a bore to receive one end of the other member and a keyway communicating with said bore, and a radial projection on said other' member adapted to be received in said keyway by movement of said slidable member upon alinement of said projection and keyway. l

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a chamber Ahaving inlet and outlet ports,

a check valve for said inlet port, an outlet port lift valve movable to closedv position in the'direction of iiuid flow through said outlet port, bias- CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

It is hereby certified. that error-appears in the printed specification tion to hold open said lift valve, a non-slidable rotating member, means for driving said rotatable member, one of said members having a bore to receive one end of the other member anda keyway communicating with said bore, and a radial projection on saidother member adapted to be received in said keyway by movement of said slidable member upon alinement of said projection and keyway.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a lchamber having inlet and outlet ports, v a check valve for said inlet port, an outlet port i lift valve movable to closed position in the direction oi' uid ilow. through said outlet port, a nonrotatable slidable member operable in one position to hold open said lift valve, a non-slidable rotating member, means for driving said rotatable member, one of said members having a bore to receive the end of said other member, a keyways in one of said members and a radial projection on the remaining member adapted to beI received j in sai'd keyway by movement of said slidable mem- Ameans tending to close said lift valve, a nonrotatable slidable member operable in one position to hold open said lift valve, a non-slidable rotating member, means for driving said rotatable member, one oi' said members having a borev to receive the end of said other member,4 a keyway inione of said members and a radial projection ion the remaining member. adapted to be 4o received in said keyway by movement of said CHARLES .v. MILLIKAN.

slidable member upon alinementiof said' projection and keyway. y CHARLES V. MILLIKAN.

April 2 1, labs of the above vnumbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page Li, first column, line y18, claim il; for "on end read --one end-7;

andl that the said` letters Patent should be read with this vcorrection therein that the samemay'conorm to therecord. of the case in the Patent Office. signed vsind sealed this 51st dey or July, A. D'. 19h13.-

Leslie Frazer Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

